What The Nefarious Carnival Does To You (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chapter Three: Mirror Mirror On The Wall

What The Nefarious Carnival Does To You

Chapter Three

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

The next morning, Nico woke up late as usual. Seeing that he had no audience to entertain and people to talk to, he laid there in bed, relishing in the soft goodness known as his pillows. Just as he was about to fall back into Elysium and sleep, a loud knock interrupted him. "Di Angelo, get up! It's 11 AM and I need you to run errands for me." Jason's muffled voice on the other side sounded. The boy in bed groaned and buried his head further in the pillows.

"Get your fireman to do it. He seems active this time of the day." Nico tilted his head to respond.

"He's already up and about. Can't seem to find him though. Last I saw him he was hanging out with Frank." Jason murmured. Nico knew Leo and Frank had an indescribable friendship that Jason was jealous of. The raven-haired magician unwillingly sat up and headed for the door. He was greeted with Jason's grinning face after opening said door. Nico sighs and runs a hand through his messy dark locks. "What do you want me to do?" Nico asked. He has a feeling he already knew the answer.

"Oh, you know how Leo leaves his swords and tools lying around and the last time that happened, Rachel beat him up when she sat down on one of his wrenches on the couch. I was wondering if..." The blonde trailed off, trying to find a way to say it without raising suspicion. To his chagrin, Nico knows very well what he's pertaining to.

"You want me to go get Leo for you so you could spend the day with him as he cleans the room up." Nico deadpanned. Jason shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and sighed almost heavily. "Am I that obvious?" He mumbled. Nico stares before putting a hand on his shoulder. "If it would help, I'm pretty obvious myself when I'm around... him. Don't worry, I'll go find him." Nico reassures him. Jason smiles and says nothing more as Nico gathers the shadows around him to transport himself out.

He sets foot outside the main house where he sees Rachel and Octavian cleaning up the mess from yesterday's performances. The streets were littered with candy wrappers, were those confetti (?), and the remnants of the flowers that were ignored by Piper.

"If you're going to be an ass about it, why tell you in the first place?" Rachel sneered, picking up numerous amount of trash and disposing it at the nearest garbage can she could find.

"Who knows? If what you say sounds cogent for me, it would appeal to others as well." Octavian huffed. Rachel grumbled and turned her back on him. Nothing ever changes. Nico thought and approached the two teens. Octavian saw him first then looked over at the red-head. "Have any of you seen Leo around?" the young boy asked. Rachel turned around and frowned. If she caught the look Octavian sent her, she paid no mind to it.

"Over Aphrodite's Island, Piper's station. She said she was busy so she asked Frank to send the new set of mirrors to her station. Leo tagged along when he saw him pass." The oracle explained. Nico nodded and headed to the direction where the missing carnies were when Rachel coughed. "Wait, Nico—" she straightened her posture and opened her mouth to speak. The boy glanced over his shoulder where Rachel stood.

"Yes?"

Octavian nudged her but she said nothing more. Impatiently, Nico sighed and went to look for Leo. The distance he walked was far enough from them but nonetheless, he heard the soft reply before Rachel and Octavian's voices faded.

"They need to know." It was Rachel.

Nico furrowed his eyebrows but thought nothing of it. He saw Aphrodite's Island not too far off. He quickened his pace so he could go back to the solitary he calls his room. A few steps ahead and he could already hear the unintelligible voices inside the tent. He pulls the two red fabric apart acting as doors and enters. He could hear laughter now. If it weren't daytime, Nico just might be a bit unnerved by it. Just a bit. He passes the hallway where tall disoriented mirrors stood on both his sides. On the far end was a cream white door with Piper's name written above. The mirrors showcase his reflection in different views and stretches; somehow making his body looks small to enlarging the size of his head.